Airconditioner

[virek]

Hello all,

Before I get down to taking the car to an aircon specialist, I would like to get your input.

When I switch the aircon on, I get a weird whistling noise coming from the vent. No change in the air temperature.

Fuses - ok
Light on button comes on (green)
Idle DOES NOT change when I switch the aircon on
Got someone to activate it while I was watching the compressor and that "second wheel" on the pulley activates when switched on...
It was re-gassed about a year ago and was working like a charm...

What else should I check?

Thanks
V

 

[BMW M]

Virek,

Its out of gas mate. You probably have a leak in the system somewhere. Had a e46 325i which did the same thing, the whistle changes with the speed of the car right? Mine had a VERY slow leak so it lasted for about a year between refills. Just wasnt worth it spending R3k repairing it.

When you have it checked, ask then to top up the compressor oil, this prevents seals in the system from running dry...

 

[virek]

Thanks buddy,

Never notice if it changed with the speed of the car - when I heard the whistle, I immediately turned it off :mmm:

I will definitely get it re-gassed, I also would not want to spend 3k on fixing it.

Thanks again.

 

[rick540]

Might not be a major leak, sometimes wierd stuff happens.

Car aircon compressors use graphite seals that can sometimes leak. Happened to me a few times occasionally after you turn the aircon off it leaks out all the gass past the seal, but might not do it again for years.

If you switch the aircon off at high revs, the compressor spins a few turns backward mashing dirt into the seal. I now only turn it on and off at idle, havn't had the problem since.